Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Across industries, organizations are asking more of their COOs: to drive efficiency, unlock growth, build resilience, lead cross-functional change, and help shape the business agenda. But what does it really take to excel as a modern operations leader today?
In this episode of McKinsey Talks Operations, host Daphne Luchtenberg speaks with McKinsey partners Darryl Piasecki and Tony Gambell, who lead the firm’s global COO Excellence initiative. Together, they break down the essential components of a high-impact COO, from a clear vision grounded in business strategy to an executable plan, strong stakeholder relationships, the right talent, and a personal operating model that enables sustained performance.
McKinsey Talks Operations has much more content to offer on the Operations topics that connect strategy with lasting success. Visit McKinseyTalksOperations.com to explore events and insights from McKinsey’s Operations Practice, and join the McKinsey Talks Operations community. You can also connect with us on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-operations
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Across industries, organizations are asking more of their COOs: to drive efficiency, unlock growth, build resilience, lead cross-functional change, and help shape the business agenda. But what does it really take to excel as a modern operations leader today?
In this episode of McKinsey Talks Operations, host Daphne Luchtenberg speaks with McKinsey partners Darryl Piasecki and Tony Gambell, who lead the firm’s global COO Excellence initiative. Together, they break down the essential components of a high-impact COO, from a clear vision grounded in business strategy to an executable plan, strong stakeholder relationships, the right talent, and a personal operating model that enables sustained performance.
McKinsey Talks Operations has much more content to offer on the Operations topics that connect strategy with lasting success. Visit McKinseyTalksOperations.com to explore events and insights from McKinsey’s Operations Practice, and join the McKinsey Talks Operations community. You can also connect with us on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-operations
Subscribe to our channel: mck.co/YouTube
Subscribe to our newsletters: mck.co/Subscribe
***Find us on***
Facebook: mck.co/Facebook
Twitter: mck.co/Twitter
LinkedIn: mck.co/LinkedIn
Instagram: mck.co/Instagram
